Professor Patterson named winner

Northeast Regional Director Dennis Reidenbach has announced the winners of the Regional Director’s Natural Resource Awards. The awards recognize outstanding contributions to natural resource stewardship in five categories, including park management, resource management, maintenance, and research. Winners in the 13-state northeast region are nominated for the same awards at the national level.

These winners represent the best efforts to preserve our natural resources at parks throughout the northeast region, said Reidenbach. Whether facing the challenges of energy conservation or threats to habitats, good science results in management decisions that help protect our parks.

William A. Patterson, III, recently retired Professor of Forest Ecology, received the award for Natural Science Research. Patterson has authored or co-authored over 70 articles, including 19 that specifically address forestry, wildfire or ecological issues at national parks. For the last 30 years, Dr. Patterson’s leadership in the northeast wildland and prescribed fire research field has significantly influenced New England area national parks policy and planning efforts.